This week two Hall of Famers DARRELL GREEN and ART SHELL were on hand to honor two of the ten finalists for the U.S. Army-Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence. The program, announced by Pro Football Hall of Famer SHANNON SHARPE at the 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, highlights the achievements of student athletes across the country.

"The Pro Football Hall of Fame is proud to continue its mission to educate and promote the excellence that comes with America's favorite game, football, and combine it with the U.S. Army's mission of excellence in school, community service and through athletics,” said George Veras, President and CEO, Pro Football Hall of Fame Enterprises. “We are excited to recognize these ten student-athletes for their outstanding achievements and hard work.”

Green presented the first finalist award to Alexis Murry at her high school, Henry E. Lackey in Indian Head, Md. in front of family, classmates, friends, faculty and staff on Wednesday Oct. 10.

“This is a great honor, I’m at a loss for words,” Murry said. “I am the only student selected from Charles County and from Maryland. It is a great step for me in my life and is important to me and my Lackey family. I thank everyone in my life that is there to support me.”

Shell continued the finalist award presentation on Thursday Oct. 11 at East Bladen High School in Elizabethtown, N.C. when Melissa Macon was honored.

"Athletes and Army Strong Soldiers possess a unique and similar set of strengths," said John Myers, Director of Marketing U.S. Army Marketing and Research Group. "We are excited to partner with the Pro Football Hall of Fame and to recognize these outstanding student-athletes; athletes who excel in their area of sport and who also excel academically. The most important attribute is that they are upstanding members of their communities. We look forward to joining with the ten finalists in San Antonio in January and celebrating their achievements."

The ten finalists for the Award for Excellence will also travel to the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl and participate in various activities throughout the end of the year. The winner of the Award for Excellence will be announced during the Bowl's formal Awards Dinner on Friday, Jan. 4, 2013.

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Class of 2012 Pro Football Hall of Famer DERMONTTI DAWSON was recently presented his Hall of Fame ring last week at the Pittsburgh Steelers home game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Dawson’s next honor will take place next Saturday Oct. 20 when The University of Kentucky football team takes on one of Southeastern Conference foe Georgia Bulldogs at 7 p.m. ET at Commonwealth Stadium. The game will serve as UK’s annual Homecoming and is being promoted as Dermontti Dawson Day

The Hall of Fame center played guard at Kentucky from 1984-87. He will return to UK to be on hand for the game, including signing autographs in the Wildcat Refuge two hours before kickoff. Dawson will then be honored on the field during the game, and the first 10,000 fans in the stadium will receive a Dermontti Dawson rally towel.

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